Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 16 augusT 2018
American

Shalane

Flanagan to

defend NYC

Marathon title

NEW YORK (AP) — Shalane
Flanagan and Geoffrey
Kamworor will defend their
titles at the New York City
USA Gymnastics coach Mark Williams watches during a Marathon in November.
training session at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Flanagan became the first
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, in Boston. U.S. woman to win the NYC
Associated Press Marathon since Miki Gor-
man in 1977. Kamworor of
Continued from Page 17 March 2017. Kenya earned his first major
“My focus is going to be
The fallout, which began creating an environment marathon victory.
The Swiss pair of Manuela
in the fall of 2016 when of empowerment where Schar and Marcel Hug also
the first victims came out all have a strong voice will defend their titles in the
publicly, continues to and we are dedicated wheelchair competition on This Nov. 5, 2017, file photo shows Shalane Flanagan of the
consume one of the U.S. every single day on ath- Nov. 4. United States posing for pictures after crossing the finish line first
Olympic movement’s lete safety,” Perry said on Flanagan won in 2 hours, in the women’s division of the New York City Marathon in New
York.
marquee programs near- the day she was hired last 26 minutes, 53 seconds last Associated Press
ly two years later. November. year, beating Mary Keitany
It’s put athletes like Biles Yet in the eight-plus of Kenya. Flanagan had up in 2010. More than 50,000 runners
in a tough spot. There’s months since taking over, the second-fastest time by The 37-year-old Flanagan from 125 countries are ex-
been so much chaos one of the voices that a U.S. woman at the event says she’s “thrilled to have pected, and she hopes
atop the organization seems to be missing is in just her second NYC Mar- the opportunity, support, “everyone preparing en-
they compete for — in- Perry’s. Though she has athon. She finished runner- passion, and health” to de- joys their journey to the start
cluding a nearly com- made a concerted ef- fend her title. line.”q
plete overhaul among fort to visit as many of
the leadership , numer- the 3,546 member gyms
ous legal battles and across the country since
murky details on how to taking over, she’s only put
implement the necessary a small dent in that num-
changes in the wake of ber. When it comes to be-
the Nassar scandal — coming the public face
that they’re not sure how of the organization, she’s
to respond. stayed in the shadows.
Asked Wednesday if Outside of a couple of
thinks USA Gymnastics is appearances in front of
headed down the right lawmakers on Capitol Hill
path, Biles offered an an- and brief remarks on a
swer that spoke volumes teleconferences with re-
about the iffy confidence porters, Perry has yet to
in the new president Kerry articulate a way forward
Perry and a recently re- outside of generic and
appointed board. carefully crafted open
“That’s a good question,” letters. There is a growing
Biles said as she prepared sense of frustration not just
for the U.S. champion- among athletes at the
ships that begin Friday elite level but also among
at the new Boston Gar- the gym owners and op-
den. “I’m not so sure yet. erators that serve as the
Hopefully, it’s going in the organization’s lifeblood. In this Aug. 17, 2016 file photo, United States’ Kerri Walsh Jennings reacts while playing Brazil
right direction but no- “The communication during the women’s beach volleyball bronze medal match of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio
body can know until Kerry from the top down has de Janeiro, Brazil. Associated Press
Perry speaks up. It’s kind been really reactive and
of hard.” disjointed,” said Kim Ran- Walsh Jennings, FIVB team up on Las
Asked if she thinks it’s som, who runs Pittsburgh
time for Perry to take on Gymnastics Club in the Vegas beach v’ball stop
a more public persona, eastern exurb of Brad-
Biles responded simply dock. “We get mass By The Associated Press serve as a stop on the FIVB split equally among men
“yes, it’s her job.” emails kind of bombed to Kerri Walsh Jennings is pro tour. Players will be able and women. In addition
Maybe, but it’s one that us when there’s a catas- bringing beach volleyball to use points earned at the to the beach volleyball
Perry has largely side- trophe in the news and to the desert. tournament to qualify for tournament, the p1440 tour
stepped since being it’s sort of just feels very The five-time Olympian’s the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. offers live music, cooking
hired last fall to replace forced and contrived ... It new p1440 circuit has The Las Vegas Open from demonstrations, yoga and
Steve Penny, who re- feels like nobody is being announced an event in Las Oct. 17-21 will have a other sessions designed to
signed under pressure in real with us.”q
Vegas for October that will prize purse of $300,000 promote healthy living.q